Compressor structure



April 21, 1931. F. R. WEST COMPRESSOR 'STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 16, 1926 BY A f M M ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 2l, 1931 y UNITED STATES 1 ATEL1SJTclip-ICE- FRANK It. WEST, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN, yAssIcrNonToA vRICE PRODUCTS TNC., 4or f-'fv DETROIT, MICHIGAN, n CORPORATION or MICHIGAN coMPRnsson STRTJGTURE Application filed September 164-1926.VA Seralo. 135,799;

Thisinve'ntion relates to compressor structure for refrigerating units and has to do more particularly with the provision of a novel unitary cylinder jacket, or block, for `the compressor unit. Y l It is they object of the present invention to provide a cylinder jacket, or block, for a compressor unit which is unitary and integral in Construction, formed of one piece, and so designed as to present a considerable 'saving in manufacture both as to labor and materials, and also designed to present an extremely efficient and compact jacket or block for the compressor.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a vertical longitudinal section through my novel cylinder block showing the integral construction thereof and the novel manner of forming gas cooled and air cooled sections therefor.

Fig. 2 is a Vertical longitudinal section taken at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 1, and showing the inlet ports provided in the cylinder jacket for admitting the refrigerant into the cylinder.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 2 and illustrating the preferred formation of my integral cast block.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line i- 4 of Fig. 3.A

It has long been the obj ectof refrigerating engineers to make a compressor unit, particularly the cylinder block, as compact and simple as possible. As a result compressor units have been designed and manufactured which, as a whole, are generally compact and simple, but which are unnecessarily complicated in order to secure the requisite amount of cooling.

I have found that it is possible to obtain a high degree of efficiency as to cooling as well as to obtain an extremely compact and simple cylinder block construction, and I have obtained these novel results by the provision of a cylinder block which is preferably cast Y integral. In the drawings this cylinder block may be designated generally l, and as shown, is preferablyof a length to accommodate theppiston during its entire stroke. The top part of this cylinder block is preferablyof the shape shown in Fig. 3 and is cored from the top'to present an annular jacket or chamber 2. This chamber 2 extends entirely around the top part of the cylinder block and is preferably open from the top whereby the cylinder block maybe cast integral and the sand, or other material forming the core, easily removed.

As shown, the annular chamber 2 extends downwardly approximately half way ofthe Vcylinder block and is designed to connect with the interior of the cylinder block by means of suitable passageways 3, formed in the inner wall 4 of the upper part of the cylinder block. A suitable boss 5 isvprovioled on the cylinder block, and is adapted to receive the. refrigerating conduitl for conducting the refrigerant fromthe low side of the compressor.

The bottom part of the cylinder casting is provided with suitable serrations, or radiat` ing fins 6, whereby the lowerpart of the cylinder castingis not only effectively air cooled, but is reinforced by such serrations. The bottom part of the cylinder casting may be formed, as at v7 to permit easy connection to the crank case housing, but itwill be understood that such cylinder block may be connected or secured to the crank case housing in any manner desired.

y The upper part of the integral cylinder casting is so formed as to provide for suitable drilled and tapped holes 8 to permit the securing to the cylinder block of a suitable cylinder head, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. y

A portion of the annular chamber 2 is somewhat narrowed, as shown in Fig. 4, due to the thickening of the'walls to provide for the ,drilled and tapped holes, but it will be obvious that this will only affect a small portion of .said annular chambeigand that the core of sand'rmaybe easily removed and the open ended chamber 2 serve as an efficient gas cooling chamber. A

In the use of this device, when formed as a unit in the compressor unit, the partially expanded refrigerating gases will be con-ducted from the low side to `the cylinder block. Such gases will still be able to produce a refrigerating effect, and as such they will enter the chamber 2 to ll up the same and then enter the cylinder space through the apertures, or ports 3 whereby a suitable reciprocation of the piston Will serve to compress and expel the compressed refrigerant. This surroundin-g of the upper end of the cylinder walls with the refrigerating gases will produce a positive cooling effect where most needed, and the bottom part of the cylinder block will be air cooled as a result of the fins 6.

It will thus be obvious that I have provided a cylinder block which is simple, compact and very easy to manufacture, the gas cooling chamber 2 being formed integral with the casting and so formed as to permit easy cleaning thereof, the air cooling fins 6 being also formed integral with the casting and also scrvin to materially strengthen the cylinder. The inside walls l0 of the cylinder casting are preferably chilled when cast. Heretofore, as far as I can learn, the interior walls of compresser cylinders for refrigerating systems have been formed with what is known as soft castings. By chilling such interior walls l have made it possible to operate the compressor unit with a very small amount of oil, in fact, literally starve the compressor unit far as the oil is concerned, as the walls being chilled will not be damaged to any material extent. ln ordinary compressors having soft walls, it is impossible to oil starve the compressor unit and particularly the cylinder, as this would cause scarring of the walls.

iVhat l claim is:

l. A integral cylinder block comprising an annular chamber to provide gas cooling of the upper part thereof, and fins for air cooling of the lower part.

2. ln a compressor for refrigerating systems, a cylinder block for receiving and guiding a piston, said block being formed with an encircling chamber for effecting gas cooling of the upper part of the walls, and circumferential fins for air cooling of part of the walls.

3. ln a compressor for refrigerating systems, a cylinder casting having an inlet in the wall thereof for receiving the refrigerant to be compressed, and a. chamber having an open end and a port, or ports, for connecting said chamber with the interior of the cylinder casting, said chamber being in communication with said refrigerant inlet whereby the refrigerant will enter the chamber to serve as a cooling means for the cylinder walls.

li. ln a compressor unit for refrigerating systems, an integral cylinder casting, the upper portion thereof being provided with a chamber opening out of the cylinder casting and adapted to receive a refrigerating gas, and a series of serrations forming an integral part of the lower end of a cylinder casting for causing air cooling of the same.

5. In a compressor unit for refrigerating systems, an integral cylinder casting the interior walls of which are chilled to present a hard surface to receive a piston whereby only a small amount of oil is required to form lubrication thereof.

G. In a compressor unit for refrigerating systems, an integral cylinder casting, means formed as a part thereof for effecting gas cooling of the cylinder casting, and means also forming a part of said casting to effect air cooling thereof, the interior walls of said casting being chilled to present a relatively hard surface for receiving and guiding the piston.

7. A cylinder block for a compressor unit of a refrigerating system comprising an integral block of material cored centrally for receiving a piston, the lower portion of the integral block being provided with fins for dissipating heat directly to the atmosphere, the upper portion of the block being provided with a chamber between the exterior wall of the block and the wall bounding the cored central portion, said chamber having a port for the entrance of gaseous refrigerant, and a port leading to the cored central portion whereby the upper portion of the block is cooled by the refrigerant.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRANK R. WEST. 

